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In case you're interested, I posted an in-depth review of the Sage Smallmouth, the St. Croix Clouser and the Scott Warm Water Special rods at www.flyfishohio.com. I own the Sage and my buddy owns the St. Croix. The Scott(s) were loaners for the review and I've fished all of them for several months. The Sage is quite unlike anything I've ever cast before - a real task-specific rod. At $395 retail including a $60 fly line I think its priced fairly for a premium rod. Don't mistake it for a 10wt, it's not. You might (*might*) be able to get something that works like the Sage by using the Sage line (radical taper, again unlike anything I've fished) and a sub-8' 9wt Garcia, but I'm thinking it won't quite be the same. This is the rod to own if your idea of fly fishihng includes a size 2 Calcaseui Pig Boat behind a number 3 spinner blade or a size 1/0 rabbit strip Dahlberg Diver.

I did, in fact, fish the St. Croix Clouser with the Clouser Big'n'Nasty line. It's a great combination and will deliver some very large flies to precise targets. I also like the St. Croix, perhaps best of all those I reviewed, for use with a sinking line or a shooting head. I liked that set-up quite a bit, too.

Joe C.

I think shorter rods in these middle and heavier line weights have a LOT going for them, not the least of which is amazing accuracy. In brief, the shorter the lever the more accurate the shot. The same is true in golf, a pitching wedge is a LOT more accurate than a 5 iron. I'm a big, big fan of moderate fast rods of 8 feet and below in line sizes 6 to 9 for guerilla fishing in dense cover - and I'm not talking about overhead trees. These rods are perfect from a canoe or kayak when making accurate 40' casts with big flies.

I've never fished the STS908 myself, so I have no opinion. I will tell you that nothing in the industry is like the Sage Bass series, they are a completely different experience. A lot of that has to do with the fact that the line is a radical departure from anything you've ever cast before and the rod and line are designed to work as a system - hence they are sold together.

Joe C.

I love "old" glass rods. I've got a collection that numbers in the dozens. And I fish spinning tackle and casting tackle, too. I love to fish, thats the name of the game for me. I'm also a businessman with a fascination for the business of fishing. It seems to me that we all want more people to responsibly practice the sport of fly fishing, patronize public waters and demand that existing waters remain clean, open and healthy and that "private" waters be carefully examined for the legitimacy of that lable. We all want more money to flow into the various Department(s) of Wildlife all the better to protect, enhance and rebuild our fisheries. We all want healthy shops where we can go that offer cool gadgets whose price is tempered by economy of scale. We all want both the artisan, hand-made jewelery-like items created by devoted individuals and the competent, affordable and practical tools provided by assembly-line efficiency and market elasticity. That said, the Sage is fairly priced with its competition and the rod is attractive to a new market segment. Like the idea or not, this is good business. Bravo for Sage.

The Sage rod and reel as a system haven't (to my admittedly limited knowledge) been offered by a single manufacturer before. Certainly Tom Nixon had ideas about cutting back 10wt lines to use on Heddon rods that had 6" cut from the tips and the guides repositioned. Nothing new there. But what Sage did was put all the pieces together, give the average angler an idea of how this unique tool could be useful, thusly generating demand. I have never owned a Sage rod before this, and truthfully I didn't have any feelings about the brand one way or the other. That said, I really like this rod. It is unique. You might be able to come close to the action with other rods, stock or modified. I wouldn't know. The explosive short-line control this outfit manifests is something new for me. When I think of it as a $65 line (I've got a few lines I've paid that for - expensive, sure, but worth every penny to me) and a $315 rod that looks cool (beauty is in the eye of this beholder), has a great warranty and a fine connection with the aesthetic of its lineage. It casts superbly and makes me laugh.

Yes, I absolutely like this rod. I'll push to review the other rods like this coming on the market. It will be a great day when we have a basketful of choices in warm water fly fishing tools! Until then, if you've got the money and the interest get one of these rods. And if you're skeptical, get to the shop and cast one. Or better, ask to borrow the one your buddy buys!

Joe C.